RUA Help and Guidance

Speak up… • If you don’t understand something or if something doesn’t seem right. • If you speak or read another language and would like an interpreter or translated materials. • If you need medical forms explained. • If you think you’re being confused with another patient. • If you don’t recognize a medicine or think you’re about to get the wrong medicine. • If you are not getting your medicine or treatment when you should. • About your allergies and reactions you’ve had to medicines.

Pay attention… • Check identification (ID) badges worn by doctors, nurses and other staff. • Check the ID badge of anyone who asks to take your newborn baby. • Don’t be afraid to remind doctors and nurses to wash their hands.

Educate yourself… • So you can make well-informed decisions about your care. • Ask doctors and nurses about their training and experience treating your condition. • Ask for written information about your condition. • Find out how long treatment should last, and how you should feel during treatment. • Ask for instruction on how to use your medical equipment.

Advocates (family members and friends) can help… • Give advice and support — but they should respect your decisions about the care you want. • Ask questions, and write down important information and instructions for you. • Make sure you get the correct medicines and treatments. • Go over the consent form, so you all understand it. • Get instructions for follow-up care, and find out who to call if your condition gets worse.

Know about your new medicine… • Find out how it will help. • Ask for information about it, including brand and generic names. • Ask about side effects. • Find out if it is safe to take with your other medicines and vitamins. • Ask for a printed prescription if you can’t read the handwriting. • Read the label on the bag of intravenous (IV) fluid so you know what’s in it and that it is for you. • Ask how long it will take the IV to run out.

Use a quality health care organization that… • Has experience taking care of people with your condition. • Your doctor believes has the best care for your condition. • Is accredited, meaning it meets certain quality standards. • Has a culture that values safety and quality, and works every day to improve care.

Participate in all decisions about your care… • Discuss each step of your care with your doctor. • Don’t be afraid to get a second or third opinion. • Share your up-to-date list of medicines and vitamins with doctors and nurses. • Share copies of your medical records with your health care team.

The goal of Speak Up™ is to help patients and their advocates become active in their care. Speak Up™ materials are intended for the public and have been put into a simplified (i.e., easy-to-read) format to reach a wider audience. They are not meant to be comprehensive statements of standards interpretation or other accreditation requirements, nor are they intended to represent evidence-based clinical practices or clinical practice guidelines. Thus, care should be exercised in using the content of Speak Up™ materials. Speak Up™ materials are available to all health care organizations; their use does not indicate that an organization is accredited by The Joint Commission.

8/19

SpeakUp™

Speak Up™ About Your Care

©2019 The Joint Commission | May be copied and distributed | Department of Corporate Communications